What’s your role in the DOP, and how long have you been here? Can you describe a typical day in your job? What do you enjoy most about your work? What’s a project or accomplishment you’re especially proud of? What motivated you to join this company? How has your role evolved since you started? What’s […]
Department News
Unraveling Adipose Tissue Dysfunction Due to Excessive Weight Using Three Research Approaches
A recent paper from the ACNC investigates how maternal weight and diet before and during pregnancy may have an impact on fat development and the metabolic health of her offspring. Postdoctoral Fellow Henry Paz and Assistant Professor Umesh Wankhade used data collected from multiple scientific research models: a cell culture model that examined fat cells […]
DOP Recognizes Educators, Partners and Leaders
Each May, the Department of Pediatrics acknowledges the service, educational efforts, support and leadership of its faculty, dyad partners, advance practice providers and administrative team members. Our thanks to Dr. Amy Scurlock for handing out this year’s awards. This year’s award winners are:
ACNC Announces New Director
Dr. Colin Kay, Ph.D. joined the ACNC in 2023 as Professor of Developmental Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics and served as Director of Precision Health Research, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) and Scientific Director of the Metabolomics and Analytical Chemistry Research Core. Prior to joining the ACNC, Kay served as Distinguished Professor in the Plants […]
Staff Spotlight
Suzanne Saccente, MD, Section of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Dr. Suzanne Saccente is being recognized for her exceptional work as a Medical Informatics Specialty Leader (MISL), particularly through her creation of the MISL Minute—a brief, high-impact tool that translates complex EHR updates into clear, digestible information for the physicians in her section. In a busy clinical setting where time and attention are limited, Dr. Saccente’s MISL Minute ensures […]
Exploring the Path of Dietary Bioactives
One study conducted by Dr. Colin Kay and colleagues examined how a class of bioactives found in blueberries are absorbed, metabolized, and excreted by our bodies after they are eaten. Investigators were particularly interested if processing the whole blueberries (i.e. food processing) would change how the bioactives were metabolized. Fresh blueberries were therefore compared to […]
Kids Can Get Moving to Improve Balance
Balance is essential for children to develop motor skills, prevent falls, and effectively perform various daily activities. However, what influences balance in children is not well understood. To explore this, researchers at the ACNC measured balance, body composition, physical fitness, and daily physical activity in 219 school-aged children (ages 7-11). Balance was evaluated using a […]
Bioactives in Breast Milk Depend on More than Just Mom’s Diet
Breast milk provides babies with a mix of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and fats in an easily digestible form – and it can also be a source of bioactive components that benefit a growing infant’s health and development. What mom eats can modify the type of carbohydrates and bioactive components (carotenoids and polyphenols) found in her […]
Neuroimaging Insights on Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy and Offspring Brain Development
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is increasingly recognized for its importance in shaping offspring brain development, impacting structure and function that further influence long-term neuropsychological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in children. Recent advancements in brain imaging technology provide new insights into fetal, neonatal, and pediatric brain morphometry (shape and size) and function. A recent literature review […]